Hair clipper



Aug. 13, 1963 R. KNlG 3,100,342

HAIR CLIPPER Filed oc'z. 13, 1980 M KM United 3,100,342 HAIR CLIPPER Reiner Knig, Solingen, Rhineland, Germany, assignor to Gerhard Schmidt, Solingen, Rhineland, Germany Filed Oct. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 62,469 11 Ciaims. (Cl. 30-200) The present invention relates to hair clippers.

Conventional hair clippers which are motor driven or hand operated include an upper cutter plate which reciprocates on a lower comb plate. These conventional clippers suffer from several disadvantages. Thus, a considerableamount of training and skill is required to operate them properly. Furthermore, it is sometimes desired merely to taper cu-t the hair, and conventional hair :clippers cannot be used for this purpose. Also, with conventional clippers there is a danger of injuring the scalp by contact between the scalp and the cutter plate. Furthermore, when it is desired to cu-t the hair in such a way that the hair length gradually varies along the scalp, great skill and care are required to operate a conventional hair clipper. In addition, it is always necessary tol use with a conventional hair clipper a comb for setting the hair up to be cut by the clipper.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a hair clipper which does not require a comb to be used in addition to the hair clipper, or where such a comb, if it is used, participates only superficially in the operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair clipper which can be used for thinning the hair. A further object of the present invention is to provide a hair clipper which can be easilyoperated even by rela. tively unskilled people to provide a hair length which varies gradually along the scalp.

It is also an object of the present invention to a hair clipper which will taper cut the hair.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of an attachment for a conventional hair clipper which will enable the conventional hair clipper to accomplish the above objects.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hair clipper which reliably maintains the cutter plate away from the scalp so that 'the latter cannot become injured by the cutter plate.

The objectsof the present invention also include the provision of a hair |clipper which can be operated by unskilled people without difficulty while producing professional results.

With the above objects in view, the invention includes a hair clipper provided with a lower comb plate and an upper cutter plate adapted to reciprocate in a conventional manner with respect to the comb plate. Both of these plates -are provided with front edges formed with teeth, and the hair which becomes located in the gaps between the teeth of these plates Will be cut at least in part. In accordance with the present invention the teeth of the lower comb platel are provided at their free ends with provide projections extending downwardly away from the cutter i plate. w

The novel features which are considered as characteristic 'for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention tself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the 'following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: p

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of 'a motor driven clipper according to the present invention; v

EIG.2 is a top planv view of the hair clipper of FIG. l; FIG. 3 is a top plan view .of the lower comb plate of the hair clipper of FIGS. l and 2;

331003342 Patented Aug. 13, 1963 ice FIG. 4 is a side view o-f the plate of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a lower comb plate according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the comb -plate of |FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a lower comb plate as -seen when looking toward the bottom thereof `and |provided with a means for releasably fixing the comb plate to the hair clipper;

FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates the operation of the hair clipper of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a transverse section through one projeotion taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a transverse section through one projection taken along 'line X- X of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of a hair clipper provided With yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 diagram-matically illustrates the operation of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the motor-driven hair clipper illust'rated therein includes an upper cutter plate 1 which is recip-rocated in a conventional manner not forming part of the present invention. The cutter plate engages at itsunderside the top face of a lower cornb plate or lower 'con-1b means 2 which is fixed by suitable screws at its rear edge portion to a support means formed by the casing of the mechanism which is 'connected to and reciproeates the cutter plate. The cutter plate 1 is formed along its front edge with teeth 3 defining between themselves the gaps 5, and it will be noted that at the front edge of theplate 1 the gaps 5 are considerably wider than the tips of the teeth 3. The com-b plate 2 is formed along its front edge with the teeth 4, and these teeth 4 extend -forwa'rdly beyond the teeth 3 and define between themselves the gaps 6 which extend rearwardly beyond the tips of the teeth 3 and which have the rear ends located to the rear of the tips of the teeth 3V by approximately the same distance as the rear ends of the gaps 5.l The 'front ends of the gaps 6are also wider than the tips of 'the teeth 4. While the number of teeth 3 and their distribution along the plate 1 may correspond with the number of teeth 4 and the distribution of the latter along vthe plate Z, it is possible to have any desired relationship between the number and distribution of the teeth and the plates land 2.

In yaccordance with the present invention the teeth 4 are respeotively provided with downwardly directed projections 4', and these projections extend rearwardly as well as downwardly 'and provide the plate 2 vvith teeth similar to the teeth of a rake. The projections 4' are of a generally arouate configuration and their front edges 7 are 'convexly Curved. Moreover, as is apparent from FIGS. 9 and 10, each oftheprojections 4' tapers.

Also in accordance with the present invention the teeth 4 are respectively provided with upwardly direc'ted project-ions 8 which are located forwardly of the teeth 3.

As is apparent from FIG. 8, when the above-described hair clipper is used the projections 4' engage the scalp 9 an'd the clipper is turned in a clockwise direction, as indicatediby the arrows in FIG. 8, so that the hair is out in the `dinection of growth,v which is to say from the roots toward the hair ends.. The teeth 4 panticularly at their projections 4' act as a comb and divide the hair up into' fine bundles 'or hanks within the gaps 6. As the clipper is moved along the scalp the hanks `of hair within the 'gapis 6 progressively 'approach the rear closed ends of these gaps and'thus progressively approach the cuttin'g region of the cutter plate 1. Inasmuch as this action takes place while the clipper is moved along the scalp, the individual hairs are cut to different lengths, and when this operation is repeated several times the hair is Simuldescribed above.

taneously `taper cut and shortened to the selected average hair length.

This average hair length remaining after use of the clipper of the invention will correspon'd approximately Vto the distance at which the plane 11 (PIG. 1) at the interremaning after theV use of the clipper will be determin'cd 'by the distance between the tips of the teeth 3 and the scalp, and of course this `cl'istance is determined by the thickness a' of the projections 4', shown at the right in FIG. 8. i During use of the |clipper of Vthe invention, the teeth 4 rest at their curved end of faces 7 on the scalp` 'to be guided in this way for movement along the scalp. In order to provide a Variation in the average thair length remaining after use of the clipper the ang-ular position of the latter relative to the sealp is changed while moving 'the clipper along the scalp', as indicated in FIG. 8, so that in this 'way it is possible to easily provide a gradual change in the hair length along the scalp. The curved end of faces 7 allow the hair clipper to be rocked on' the scalp while moving therealong to produce a Variation in the hair length.

While the above-described structure will'provide taper cutting, it may be desired to tapet' cut the hair very rapidly, and in this event the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is used. The lower comb plate or lower comb means 12 of FIGS. 5 and 6 difiers from thatof FIGS. 3 and 4 in that in addition to the gaps 15 which correspond to the 'gaps 6, the teeth 14 of 'the plate 12 -are formed at their front end portionswhich extend forwardly'beyond the tips of the teeth 3 with additional gaps 15'. As may be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 the teeth 14 correspond to the teeth 4 and 'are provided with downwardly directed projections 14' yand upwardly 'directed projections 18 corresponding to the projections 14' 'and 8 described above.

Withthis embodiment,- the hair which becomes locatedV in thegaps 15 will be cut -by the`teeth 3 in the manner maintained 'away from the teeth 3 so as not to be cut thereby, -and thus the comb plate l12 will provide a rapid thinning of the hair. is a'simpe matter to unscrew the plate 2 from the hair clipper and replace it with the plate 12'.

In order to be able to use the invention with Conventional hair clip'pers which have conventional lower cornb plates, a plate 20 (FIG. 7) having the construction of either 'the plate 2 or the plate 12 is fixed to a pair of leaf Springs 19 which are adapted to snap over the conventional lower comb 'plate and to engage the casing which surrounds'the mechanism driving the cutter plate, so that in this way the plate-20 of FIG. 7 may be releas- 4 PIG. 11. This plate 21 is provided with teeth 24 of the same construction as the teeth 4 or 14 except that the top ends of. the teeth 24 do no't extend to an elevation higher than the teeth of the comb plate 23. The projections 24' are, however, identical with the projections 4' or 14'. The lugs 25 are provided with detents which releasably hold the plate 21 in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 11. Thos, the lugs 25 may be provided with spring-pressed ball members engaging the underside of the plate 21 to rele'asably maintain it in the solid line position of FIG. ll. In this position it is ,'a'pparent that lthe plate 21 .and 'the conventional plate 23 together form comb means which Will operate in the same way as the comb plates of the invention described above. When the operator does not wish to use the plate 21,` it is simply swun'g rback to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 11, 'and it is releasably maintained in'this latter position by another pair of detents carried by the lugs 25, respectively. vIt will be noted that in the operative position of the plate 21 the teeth 24 extend fonwardly beyond the pla'te 23 so as to prevent engagement of the cutter plate with the scalp. Thus, the parts 22, 25 form a means supporting the plate 21 for pivotal movement between the operative and inoperative positions shown in solid .and dotted lines, respectively, in FIG. ll. When the plate 21 is'in its 'inoperative position, the clipper will 'be guided by the arcuate peripheries of the lu'gs 25, these peripheries engagng .the scalp so that the olipper can be easily rocked on the lugs 25 to any desired inclin'ation. In order to 'reduce the friction between the lugs 25 and the scalp, theselugs are formed with grooves 26 extending longitudinally along the peripheral edges of the lugs.

However, some of the hair Will be'v located in'the gaps 15' and 'the 'hair in these gaps 1'5' is As is 'apparent from FIGS. 1-6, it

'ably attached to a conven'tional hair clipper in enga'ge- V ment with the underside of the comb plate thereof, the conventional comb plate and plate 20 together compn'sing comb means. Since the front edge of such a conven- 'tional comb plate is aligned with the front vedge of the cutter plate, the projections 8 or 18 will simply be located `forwardly of the teeth of both plates of the conventional 'hair clipper, and' the plate 20 will then function in the manner described above.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. ll, the conventional hair clpper shown fragmentarily therein' has a conventional `cornb plate 23. lA pair 'of l'ugs 25 `are fixed 'to and extend downwardly from the The above-described 'embodiments of the invention c'an be used by professional lhair vcutters as well as by nonprofessional purchasers. For example, any of the above-I vdesc'ribed embodiments may -be used in the home It may be desired, however, to provide a clipper for professional use'which can cut very close to the scalp, and for this purpose the embodiment of FIG. 12 is provided. With this embodiment the plate 32 hasthe construction of the plates described above and enga'ges the underside of the'conventional comb'plate, being fastened to the clippers by the same screws which fasten (the convention'al com'b plate thereto, for example. The plate 32 does not extend forwardly beyond the convention'alcomb plate and the teeth 34 thereof have only projeetions 34', respectively, which extend downwardly, so that the plate 32 will produce all of the above-described results While at the same time permitting the conventional comb plate as 'well as the cutter plate to app'roach very close to the scalp, as shown at the right of FIG. 12.' V

It will be Aun'derstood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of hair clippers differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described .as embodied in hair clipper comb plates, it is not intended to be limited to the `details. shown, since various modifications .and -structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of 'the present invention. i

AWithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully r'eveal the 'gist of the present invention that others can by applying current Knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior'art, fairly constit-ute essential characteristics of the :generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are inmeans having front edge'portions formed with teeth, the teeth of said cutter means being 'adapted to reciprocate With respect to the teeth of said comb means for cutting hair located in the gaps between the teeth thereof, said lower comb means having at its front edge portion a plurality of projections respectively extending downwardly from free end portions of said teeth 'at said front edge portion of said lower means, at least the free ends of said projections being located beneath said comb means.

2. In a hair clipper according to claim 1 wherein said lower comb means comprises a lower comb plate and an additional vturnable comb plate located next tov the underside of said lower comb plate and having a front edge portion formed with said teeth which respectively have said downwardly directed projections adjacent their front ends when said additional comb plate engages the front edge portion of said lower comb plate; and means pivotally connecting said additional plate to said lower plate for turning movement between an operative position where vsaid additional plate engages the front edge portion of said lower plate and an inoperative position where said additional plate is located rearwardly of said front edge portion of said lower plate.

3. In a hair clipper according to claim l wherein said lower comb means comprises a lower comb plate |and an additional turnable comb plate located next to the underside of said lower comb plate and having a front edge portion formed with said teeth which Irespectively have said downwardly directed projections adjacent their front ends when said additional comb plate engages the front edge portion of said lower comb plate; and means pivotally connecting said 'additional plate to said lower plate for turning movement between an optra-tive position Where said additional plate engages the front edge portion of said lower plate and an inoperative position where said additional plate is located rearwardly of said front edge portion of said lower plate, said additional plate when in its operative position having ya front edge located at substantially the same elevation as the front edge of said lower plate.

4. In a hair clipper according to claim 1 wherein said lower comb means comprises a lower comb plate |and an additional turnable comb plate located next to the underside of said lower comb plate and having a front edge portion formed with said teeth which 'respectively have said downwardly directed projections adjacent their front ends when said additional comb plate engages the front edge portion of said lower comb plate; and means pivotally connecting said 'additional plate to said lower plate for turning movement between an operative position where said additional plate engages the front edge portion of said lower plate and an inoperative position where said additional plate is located rearwardly of said front edge portion of said lower plate, said means pivotally connecting said additional plate to said lower plate including a pair of lugs respectively extending downwardly from opposite sides of said lower plate and having curved edges on which the clipper may be tilted.

5. In a hair clipper according to claim l wherein said lower comb means comprises a lower comb plate and an additional turnable comb plate located next to the underside of said lower comb plate and having a front edge portion formed with said teeth which 'respectively have said downwardly directed projections adjacent their front ends when said additional comb plate engages the front edge portion of said lower comb plate; and means pivotally connecting said additional plate to said lower plate for turning movement between an operative position where said additional plate engages the front edge portion of said lower plate and an inoperative position where said additional plate is located rearwardly of said front edge portion of said lower plate, said means pivotally connecting said additional plate to said lower plate including a pair of lugs respectively extending downwardly from opposite sides of said lower plate and having curved edges on which the clipper may 'be tilted, said curved edges being formed with grooves.

6. In a hair clipper, -in combination, lower comb means and upper cutter means adapted to Aslidably reciprocate with respect to said lower comb means, both of said means having front edge portions formed with teeth, the teeth of said cutter means being adapted to reciprocate with respect to the teeth of said comb means for cutting hair located in the gaps between the teeth thereof, said lower comb means having at its front edge portiona plurality of projections respectively extending downwardly from free end portions of said teeth at said front edge portion of said lower means, said projections having an arcuate configuration and at least the free ends of said projections being located beneath said comb means.

7. In a hair clipper, in combination, lower comb means and upper cutter means adapted to slidably reciprocate with respect to said lower comb means, both of said means having front edge portions formed with teeth, the teeth of Said cutter means being adapted to reciprocate with respect to the teeth of said comb means for cutting hair located in the gaps between the teeth thereof, said lower comb means having at its front edge portion a plurality of projections respectively extending downwardly from free end portions of said teeth at said front edge portion of said lower means, at least the free ends of said projections being located beneath said comb means, the teeth of said lower comb means extending forwardly beyond the teeth of said upper cutter means, and said lower comb means also having a plurality of upwardly directed projections respectively extending from the free ends of the teeth of said lower means yand located forwardly of the tips of the teeth of said upper means.

8. In a hair clipper, in combination, lower comb means and upper cutter means adapted to slidably reciprocate with respect to said lower comb means, both of said means having front edge portions formed with teeth, the teeth of said cutter means being adapted to reciprocate with respect to the teeth of said comb means for cutting hair located in the gaps between the teeth thereof, said flower comb means having at its front edge portion a plurality of projections respectively extending downwardly from free end portions of said teeth -at said front edge portion of said lower means, at least the free ends of said projections being located beneath said comb means, the gaps between the teeth of said lower comb means extending rearwardly beyond the free ends of the teeth of said upper cutter means, and the teeth of said lower comb means respectively having portions extending forwardly beyond the teeth of said cutter means and respectively formed with gaps extending rearwardly up to the region where the free ends of the teeth of said cutter means are located, 'whereby hair in the gaps between the teeth of 'both of said means will be vcut while hair in the gaps of said portions of said teeth of said comb means will not be cut.

9. In a hair clipper, in combination, lower comb means, comprising ya fixed lower comb plate and a releasa'ble lower comb plate superimposed on said fixed lower comb plate, and upper cutter means adapted to slidably reciprocate with respect to said lower comb means, both of said means having front edge portions formed with teeth, the teeth of said cutter means `being adapted to reciprocate with respect to the teeth of said comb means for cutting hair located in the gaps between the teeth thereof, said lower comb means having at its 'front edge portion a plurality of projections respectively extending downwardly from free end portions of said teeth at said front edge portion of said lower means, at least the free ends of said projections being located beneath said comb means; support means car-rying said cutter; `and spring means connected to said releasable lower comb plate for releasably connecting the latter to said support means.

10. In a hair clipper, in combination, an upper cutter plate and a lower comb plate cooperating with each other I portion terminating in a plurality of teethjrespectively located beneath the teet-h of Said lower plate and respec-' tively having projections extending downwardly away from the teeth of said lower plate, at least the free ends of said projections 'being located beneath said comb means.,

11. In a hair clipper, in combination, 'at least one lower V corlnbV plate andan upper cutter plate adapted to slidably reciprocate with respect 'to-said lower com'b plate, 'both 10 portion a plnrality oflprojections respectivefly extending downwardly from free end portions of said teeth at said xfront edge portion of said lower plate, atleast the free ends of said projections being located beneath said comb means, and said projectionsbeing tapered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,960 Lees Mar. 28, 1905 835,259 Scharif Nov. 6, 1906 1,807,811 Van Osdel June 2, 1931 1,962,264 Veit Inne 12, 1934 2,606,365 Pileggi V Aug. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 16, 1961 

1. IN A HAIR CLIPPER, IN COMBINATION, LOWER COMB MEANS AND UPPER CUTTER MEANS ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY RECIPROCATE WITH RESPECT TO SAID LOWER COMB MEANS, BOTH OF SAID MEANS HAVING FRONT EDGE PORTIONS FORMED WITH TEETH, THE TEETH OF SAID CUTTER MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO RECIPROCATE WITH RESPECT TO THE TEETH OF SAID COMB MEANS FOR CUTTING HAIR LOCATED IN THE GAPS BETWEEN THE TEETH THEREOF, SAID LOWER COMB MEANS HAVING AT ITS FRONT EDGE PORTION A PLURALITY OF PROJECTIONS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM FREE END PORTIONS OF SAID TEETH AT SAID FRONT EDGE PORTION OF SAID LOWER MEANS, AT LEAST THE FREE ENDS OF SAID PROJECTIONS BEING LOCATED BENEATH SAID COMB MEANS. 